The goal of wearing braces is simple: to straighten your teeth and give you a picture perfect smile. They have amazing benefits, but they can also come with their disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that people who wear metal alignment devices are more than likely prohibited from eating some foods. Remembering all of the different foods to avoid can be quite overwhelming. Luckily, here is an FAQ of the main foods you should avoid when wearing braces.

FAQ

Can I Chew Gum with Braces?

This is a given for most people who wear teeth alignment devices. Many people who chew gum while having these devices in their mouth are subject to spending hours upon hours picking the gums out of the metal pieces. Not only is this process annoying, any missed pieces of gum can lodge itself between the metal and teeth and prevent proper cleaning of certain areas of the teeth, making your teeth more susceptible to an increased amount of germs in the mouth. Chewing gum and Invisalign also do not work well together as the gum will stick to the aligners. Chewing gum with metal in your mouth will not make your orthodontist happy.

Can I Eat Apples with Braces?

Apples are extremely healthy and were at one point even said to be good for dental health. However, whole apples are not ideal for people who require teeth straighteners as they are too hard on the teeth. Consider the following alterations to make apples safer to eat:

Coring and dicing – The smaller the apple chunks, the less likely that damage will be done to your teeth.

Shaving the apple

Bake the apples – Ideal for a sweet, healthy apple treat.

No matter which way you choose to eat the apple, always enjoy your apple by eating it in the safest way possible.

Can I Eat Beef Jerky with Braces?

Beef Jerky is a simple, favorite snack among many people, however, they are just not a good snack for people who wear teeth alignment devices. Simply put, the texture is just too rough on the teeth for them to be safe. Eating beef jerky can cause bands to snap, leading to unwanted visits to the orthodontist.

Can I Eat Caramel or Chewy Candy with Braces?

Along the same principle of avoiding bubble gum, it is advised that one who wears metal aligners on his or her teeth should avoid eating caramel or chewy candies as well. Like gum, these foods can get extremely messy and annoying to clean out. The sugar in these treats can also become very sticky and difficult to brush away.

Can I Eat Popcorn with Braces?

Going to the movies just got a little less exciting. Those who wear metal aligners are advised not to eat popcorn. Although the white, puffy parts of the popcorn don’t seem to pose too much of a threat, there are parts of a cooked popcorn kernel that do pose a threat are difficult to avoid. The “shelling” (as some would like to call them) of a popcorn kernel can easily get stuck between the wire and the brackets and it is nearly impossible to remove. Also, on the off chance that you accidentally chew one of the uncooked popcorn kernels that normally appear in every batch, you could risk breaking the wire. Therefore, this is a snack you may be better off avoiding.

Can I Eat Meat on the Bone with Braces?

The meat itself is actually great to eat with metal aligners; it is the actual bone that becomes problematic. The bone in meat is another hard surface to avoid as chewing on it could potentially cause damage to the wires on your teeth. When eating meat on the bone, remember to remove the meat off of the bone and dispose of the bone for safer consumption.

Can I Eat Raw Vegetables with Braces?

This is not an excuse to throw away the veggies. One may find it extremely confusing to think that vegetables can be dangerous to a demographic of people, but yes, raw vegetables are dangerous to the teeth of people who wear metal aligners. This is essentially because of the hard texture of raw vegetables; it can be damaging to the wire on one’s teeth. To make these vegetables safer, consider boiling or baking them first to make them a little softer.

Can I Eat Hard Cookies with Braces?

You may not be surprised by this entry considering that most foods with such a high sugar content prove to be dangerous for people who were metal teeth aligners. However, cookies are actually safe to eat, as long as they are not hard. Soften your cookies by dipping them in milk. Not only are you making better decisions for your dental health this way, you are also indulging in a classic treat!

Can I Eat Pizza Crust with Braces?

This may not be disappointing if you happen to be one of the many people who tend to discard the pizza crust after eating the pizza. Still the fact remains: pizza crust is one of the many things that can potentially damage metal teeth alignment devices. Pizza crust is very chewy, which can lead to bent wires and popped brackets.

Dr. Papandrea says one in a million he is a wonderful orthodontist very patient very kind explains everything in detail I would recommend him to any one of my family members. He did an amazing job with my son's braces the staff is also very helpful. He made the whole process very easy. Thank you dr. Papandrea is for everything you have done for my son and his confidence with his teeth. Sincerely, Stacy

The second I walked in for the first time, I knew I was in good hands. I was greeted by the friendly smile of the woman at the front desk where she then showed me how to check in whenever I come. My mom and I met with Dr. P and he examined me and decided what would work the best for me personally. He was very straightforward with everything and always had a sense of humor. After starting treatment they were very exact with their instructions and everybody politely answered every question my mom and I may have had. It was incredible to see what Dr. P’s office is capable of and everything that goes into orthodontics and how much pride they all take in their work. I specifically went to Dr. P because of his reputation with Invisalign and I know I was getting the best care available and my results reflect that perfectly. Not only is Dr. P amazing, but so is his entire staff. The woman in charge of financing was very helpful and my mom always said how nice she was. Dr. P's assistants are all so energetic and are always wondering what is going on in my life with high school and sports. Everybody always made me feel like I was at home and I always found myself laughing. The office itself is always decorated according to what is going on at the time whether it is around a holiday or the Warriors happen to blow a 3-1 lead or the Indians make it to the World Series and the music the office plays is always very enjoyable, nothing ever annoying. Overall, I can’t imagine myself having gone anywhere else and I can honestly say I tell all my friends to go to Dr. P as well.

Dr. Papandreas always took personal care of me throughtout my use of Invisalign. He was true to his word and his expertise gave me the smile I wanted without traditional braces. I highly recommend him.